Electric fire-alarm



-(-No Model.) (Sheets-$119M: 1.

G. ROWAND. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM, CIRCUIT, AND SIGNAL BOX.

' No.v 598,160. Patented Feb. 1;1-898.

Witnesses. Inventor.

Attorney.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. G. ROWAND.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM, CIRCUIT, AND SIGNAL BOX.. No. 598,160. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

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Witnesses.

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Ipventor.

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(No Model.)

. i 4 Sheets-Sheet 3. L. G. ROWAND. ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM, OIRGUIT,;AND SIGNAL BOX.

Patented Feb. 1, 1898.-

\Nitnessesv Inventor.

@WM max/4M k (No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 4.

L. G. ROWAND.

ELECTRIC FIRE ALARM, CIRCUIT, AND SIGNAL BOX.

'No. 598,160. Patented Feb. 1, 1898.

O ijii R) N g O v1v E witness es. Inventor.

Attorney.

LEWIS G. RC WAND, OF CAMDEN, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNIVERSAL FIRE ALARM COMPANY, OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTREC FIRE-ALARM, CIRCUIT, AND SIGNAL-BOX.

SFECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,160, dated February 1, 1 898..

Application filed January 5, 1897.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEwIs G. ROWAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Camden, county of Camden, and Stateof New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Fire-Alarms, Circuits, and Signal-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to prevent within certain limits signals being sent from more than one box at the same time. 7 When the construction is such that signals can be given from more than one box at the same time, the signals received at the central station are. clouded, which is exceedingly detrimental to the proper operation of a fire-alarm system. Speaking generally, I accomplish this result by controlling the driving device for the signal-commutator in the box by means of an electric devicesay an electromagnet whose armature forms or is connected with locking mechanism for the driving mechanism. This magnet when energized attracts its armature, so as to release the driving mechanism. Retarding mechanism is connected with the armature, so that an appreciable time will be required to release this driving mechanism. The circuit to this magnet is included in the commutator and linecircuit. The commutator when moving acts to make and break this circuit. Its periods of make and break are considerably shorter than the period required to move the armature sufiiciently to release the driving mechanism. Consequently if one box isoperated unless another box is operated simultaneously the driving mechanism of the first box will have been released and the commutator moved to cut off the current from the line and the magnets of the other box before the magnet of the second box has operated to release the driving mechanism of its commutator and no signal will be given by the commutator of the second device. As the periods of make and break of the commutator are short compared with the period required to release the driving. mechanism, if one box has the slightest lead over another box or boxes the commutator of the first box will Serial No. 618,010. (No model.)

have broken the circuit to the magnets of the other boxes before these magnets can have acted long enough to release the commutator driving mechanism corresponding to said magnets. When the box-door is closed, the arrangement is such that the line is shunted about the commutator and magnet, and when the box is opened the magnet and commutator are included in the circuit.

Having thus set out the purpose of my in vention and in general language stated how that purpose or object is carried out, I will now proceed to describe the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a front view of the box with the doors removed. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 00 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, with the front bearing plate or stand ard removed. Fig. 4 is an electric diagram showing two boxes connected to line.

A and B represent two boxes, C the main line, D a shunt of the main line at each box, having upon it the spring-switch d, normally open. This switch is provided with a projection d in line with a projection 01 on the box-door d and adapted when struck by it to close the switch and short-circuit the box.

A Wire e from the line extends to the brush surface of the commutator E, the commutator E having insulated and active portions corresponding to the signal for the box. From brush E a wire leads to brush F, resting normally upon active surface of commutator F.

F is a brush also acting normally upon the 9c active surface of the commutator F. A wire from brush F leads to magnet G, and from magnet G a wire leads to the main line on the side opposite to that of wire e.

A brush F normally rests upon the insu- 5 lated surface of the commutator F. From brush F a wire leads to bell-magnet H, controlling the bell H, and from bell-magnet H a wire leads to the main line at the point where magnet G is connected therewith.

From the Wire connecting brush F and bellmagnet H a wire is run to the contact I in line of movement of key 6. From the wire connecting brush F with magnet G a wire runs to key I, and from contact 11, in line of movement of key I, a wire runs to wire 6.

The commutator F has its surface divided into insulated and non-insulated portions, and when the brushes F and F rest on the active surface a circuit is made with the bellmagnet H, and when brush F rests on insulation the circuit is broken to bell-magnet H. Thus in the revolution of the commutator F the bell is operated. Key 6 when closed will complete the circuit independent of the magnet G or commutators E and F and may be used to signal independent of these devices. Switch I whenclosed will complete the circuit to magnet G independent of the commutator-disks E and F and may be used to test this magnet without sending a signal. So 'much for the electrical mechanism.

The mechanical connections are as follows:

J is the shaft of the commutator-disk F. Upon this shaft is the gear j, which gears into the spring gear-wheel i. The spring gear-wheelj also gears into the wheel 7' having upon its shaft the commutator E. The relative sizes of this plan of gear are such that with a single revolution of commutator F commutator E will revolve four times. Gearf on the shaft of gear 7' gears into the wheel 9' on the shaft of the escapementwheel K.

1c is the escapement-pawl of the escapement-wheel K. To the shaft of this pawl is secured the arm 70, having upon it the adj ustable weight k fixed in the desired position by the set-screw k G is the armature of magnet G. This armature is pivoted at g and has fixedly connected with it the projecting piece 9, adapted to rest in notch g in disk g on the shaft of gear j and commutator F. The other end of the armature, as at 9 normally rests against the arm is, normally preventing the escapement K and its corresponding train of gear acting. The armature is held in its normal position by spring g.

L is a pawl pivoted to a lug on the armature G, working in ratchet Z on shaft L. On

the shaft of ratchet-wheel l is gear Z, working with gear Z on shaft Z of escapementwheel M.

m is the escapement-pawl of the escapement-wheel M, secured to the shaft m, carrying the adjustable weight m secured in desired position by set-screw m In general the operation is as follows: When the magnet G is not energized, the armature G prevents the escapement K operating, and hence neither commutator F nor E can operate. When the magnet G is energized, it attracts its armature, causing it to move so as to release the escapement K and also to draw out the projection g. The arrangement is such that the armature must move its full extent under the action of the magnet to reescapement M, through its connection with pawl L, connected to the armature, causes this movement to occur slowly, the period being determined by the adjustment of weight m upon arm m. When the commutator-disk F commences to move, the brush F will almost at once pass on to insulation, cutting off the circuit to the magnet G. The escapement will remain released as long as projection 9 rides upon the periphery of disk 9 which will continue until the disk g and commutator-disk F have made a complete revolution, whereupon the projection will drop into notch g and the armature end g will engage pawl k and move it forward to lock the escapement K. Thus the mechanism is locked by the locking of the escapement.

From the above description it may be seen that the period of time required to release the mechanism by the movement of the armature to allow the commutator-disks F and E to revolve is of considerably greater extent than the period in which the commutator F will again break circuit to the line. This being the case, if two or more boxes are operated within a period less than the period required for brush F to pass on to insulation only one box would operate at a time and the boxes would give their signals successively. As the period required for-closure of armature is comparatively long and the period of breaking so short after the closure, with this construction it is practically impossible for signals from more than one box to go in at a time.

I provide the following means for stopping the movement of the device after the commutator F has revolved once and the commutator E four times-.that is, aftera complete signal has been given:

N is a standard having an elongated bearing, as at n, so that it can revolve and also move in this bearing, said standard having a spring N tending to hold it in outward and upward position against the pin 19. Connected to this standard are the arms N and N The arm N has a forked end, which incloses a pin on one end of a bell-crank n, pivoted at 02 Upon the shaft of the commutator-disk F is a disk 0, upon which are the pins 0 0, the pin 0 being at its periphery, the pin 0 being on the side of the disk. Secured to the casing of the mechanism are the pins 12 1), one on each side of arm N which determines the extent of movement in either direction of arm N At the beginning of operation the pin 0 rests against the operating-hook P and locks the device. The pin 0 rests against the end of arm N holding it in its inner position against spring N When the hook is pulled down, the bell-crank 47. turns and prevents at this time the hook P, if released, coming again in alinement with pin 0. \Vhen the armature releases the escapelnent, as before described, the disk 0 commences to revolve, the pin 0 passing arm N The arm, through lease the escapement and projection g. The the action of spring N moves outwardly against the surface of the disk in line of travel of pin 0, so that when in the revolution of the disk F the pin 0 reaches the arm N it strikes it, moving it downward until it strikes the pin 19. This causes the standard to revolve, which tilts arm N, moving the bell-crank at out of alinement with hook P, so that the hook comes upinto the position in alinement with pin 0.

The mechanism is stopped by pin 0, resting against thearm N the pin 0 resting against the hook P. The standard N is in alinement with a pin Q 011 the door Q, so

that when the door is closed the standard N is moved inward so as to move the arm N away from pin 0, and the spring N moves it up against the pin 19 and back of the pin 0', as at the initial position.

' Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric fire-alarm system, a main- I line circuit, a plurality of boxes each having signaling devices in circuit with the main-line circuit, a spring-actuated wheel for operating the signaling devices, an escapement connected with said wheel, an escapement-pawl operating with the escapement, an electromagnet in circuit with the signaling devices, a device carried by the armature adapted in the retracted position of the armature to lock said escapement, a wheel in connection with the spring-actuated wheel provided with a detent, a projection'carried by said armature adapted in the retracted position of the armature to enter said detent.

2. In an electric fire-alarm system, a mainline circuit, a plurality of boxes each having signaling devices in circuit with the main-line circuit, a spring-actuated wheel for operating the signaling devices, an escapement connected with said wheel, an escapement-pawl operating with the escapement, an electromagnet in circuit with the signaling devices, a device carried by the armature adapted in the retracted position of the armature to lock said escapement, a wheel in connection with the spring-actuated wheel provided with a detent, a projection carried by said armature adapted in the retracted position of the armature to enter said detent, a pawl carried by said armature, a ratchet in which said pawl works, an escapement-wheel in connection with said ratchet-wheel, and an escapementpawl operating with the last-mentioned escapement-wheel.

3. In an electric fire-alarm system, a main-- line circuit, a plurality of boxes each having signaling devices in circuit with the 1n ain-line circuit, a spring-actuated wheel for operating .the signaling devices, an escapement connected with said wheel, an adj ustably-weighted escapement-pawl operating with the es c'apement, an electromagnet in circuit with the signaling devices, a device carried by the armature adapted in the retracted position of the armature to lock said escapement, a wheel the signaling devices, an escapement con- 7 nected with said wheel, an adj ustably-weighted escapement-pawl operating with the escapement, an electromagnet in circuit with the signaling devices, a device carried bythe armature adapted in the retracted position of the armature to lock said escapement, a wheel in connection with the spring-actuated wheel provided with a detent, aprojection carried by said armature adapted in the retracted po sition of the armature to enter said detent, a pawl carried by said armature, a ratchet in which said pawl works, an escapement-wheel in connection with said ratchet-wheel, and an escapemen t-pawl operating with the last-mentioned escapement-wheel.

5. In an electric fire-alarm system, a mainline circuit, a plurality of boxes each having signaling devices in circuit with the main-line circuit, a spring-actuated wheel for operating the signaling devices, an escapement con nected with said wheel, an adj ustably-weighted escapement-pawl operating with the es capement, an electromagnet in circuit with the signaling devices, a device carried by the armature adapted in the retracted position of the armature to lock said escapement, awheel 'in connection with the spring-actuated wheel provided with a detent, a projection carried by said armature adapted in the retracted position of the armature to enter said detent, a pawl carried by said armature, a ratchet in which said pawl works, an escapement-wheel .in connection with said ratchet-wheel, and an adjustably-weighted escapement-pawl operating with the last-mentioned escapementwheel.

(3. In a fire-alarm signaling-box apparatus, in combination, a springactuated signaling device, a disk moving with said signaling device, pins upon said disk, one at the periphery, the other within the peripher a tripping-lever in alinement with the peripheral pin, astandard having a bearing in which it is adapted to move and revolve, a spring tending to move said standard in the bearing and rotate it, arms connected to said standard, a weighted pawl pivoted to one arm, said pawl in one position being in alinement with the tripping-lever, pins limiting the movement of the last-mentioned arm, said arm in one position being in alinement with the pin within the peripheryiof the disk, and in the other position adapted to rest against said pin.

7. In a fire-alarm signaling-box apparatus, in combination, a spring-actuated signaling device,a disk moving with said signaling device, pins upon said disk, one at the periphery the other within the periphery, a tripping-lever in alinement with the peripheral pin, a standard having a bearing in which it is adapted to move and revolve, a spring tending to move said standard in the bearing and rotate it, arms connected to said standard, a weighted pawl pivoted to one arm, said pawl in one position being in alinement with the tripping-lever, pins limiting the movement of the last-mentioned arm, said arm in one position being in alinement with the pin Within the periphery of the disk and in the other position adapted to rest against said pin, and means to move said standard on its bearing.

8. In a fire-alarm signaling-box apparatus, in combination, a spring-actuated signaling device, a disk moving with said signaling device, pins upon said disk, one at the periphery, the other within the periphery, a tripping-lever in alinement with the peripheral pin, a standard having a bearing in which it is adapted to move and revolve, a spring tending to move said standard in the bearing and rotate it, arms connected to said standard, a weighted pawl pivoted to one arm, said pawl in one position being in alinement with the tripping-lever, pins limiting the movement of the last-mentioned arm, said arm in one posi- LEWIS G. ROWAND.

'Witnesses:

FRANK S. BUssER, J EssE B. HELLER. 

